PAINT THE TOWN RED.......GREEN, YELLOW, BLUE, ORANGE..HOLI HAI !!

Sacred Observatory wishes everyone a very Happy Holi.

IT'S TIME.........ALL EYES ON THE TURF PLEASE

Hockey World Cup 2010 starts today at New Delhi's Dhyan Chand National Stadium. A sport, which also happens to be our national sport( I am sure this will come as a breaking news to the new generation who have grown along side the hype and hoopla of modern day cricket) is languishing at the bottom of the popularity charts today. And it's very unfortunate.

Gone are the hockey fields, the sight of kids learning the finer aspects of this lovely traditional sport. This entire nation doesn't look beyond cricket. And this is precisely the reason why our misery continues in other sporting disciplines.

I was surprised when we were given the right to host the twelfth edition. I am a great fan of the sport of hockey and especially our glorious past. I still feel there is no dearth of talent, what we need is money, hell of a lot of money, to win our Golden moments back. IHF alone can't do much beyond a point, Corporates need to step forward and pledge their allegiance to this remarkable sport. Apart from Cricket, tennis( to some extent...... and thanks to the mercurial duo) and hockey, I am not sure about any other discipline, which can catapult us to the very top of international sporting arena.

It's my sincere request to everybody to chip in and support Hockey.Playing, watching, writing, discussing..........anything to popularise this game. Mere commercial endorsement from sporting icons of other sports isn't enough to get back to our winning ways.

Come let's cheer the sport.........Come let's cheer India !

GO INDIA....... GO !!

JAI HIND!!!

IT'S MIDNIGHT...........AND THEY ARE BACK

GREAT GIG IN THE SKY...............HAPPINESS RETURNS :-)

WHAT HAVE I BECOME........

I just saw this video of Country God late Johnny Cash and couldn't hold back the tears .....Here's the latest Postcard from Heaven.

Savor it my friends.........Hurt will move you in a way that you would have never experienced before.

I hurt myself today
to see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
the only thing that's real
the needle tears a hole
the old familiar sting
try to kill it all away
but I remember everything
what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirt

I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of thorns
upon my liar's chair
full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
beneath the stains of time
the feelings disappear
you are someone else
I am still right here

what have I become?
my sweetest friend
everyone I know
goes away in the end
and you could have it all
my empire of dirt

I will let you down
I will make you hurt

if I could start again
a million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clq01TXQR0s

MAN IN BLACK TURNS 78.........HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY !!

On 12th September 2003, great country legend Johnny Cash passed away leaving behind his rich musical legacy. Today 26th Feb would have been his 78th birthday. Sacred Observatory wishes the man with the golden voice a very happy birthday.

Sing along to one of my favorite Johnny Cash signature song............I WALK THE LINE ( COZ YOU ARE MINE)

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1P-2QnEQQY

IF EVER THEY FALL.............ONE FROM THE STAR CATCHER'S DIARY

If ever they fall, just give me a call
Yes my dear, all you got to do is call.
And to you, I will come running
If ever they fall.....If ever they fall.

Together we will catch them
back in the sky, we will hang them.

Nobody else, but just you and me

We will catch them, every single one of them,
we will catch them.

Back in the sky, we will hang them.

If ever they fall, just give me a call
Yes my dear, all you got to do is call.
And to you, I will come running
If ever they fall.........If ever they fall.

ENCORE !!.....LOVE OVER GOLD

Come take my hand,
waiting for you, here I stand
Let me guide you to a secret land,
Come on my princess hold my hand.

Far away from this world, so cold and mean
together forever, we will always be.
Nothing will ever come between us
our love so true, will always guide us.

Come take my hand,
waiting for you, here I stand
Let me guide you to a secret land,
come on my princess hold my hand.

GOOGLE DOODLE @ VANCOUVER 2010.......DOODLE OF THE DAY

I am sure quite a few of you would have noticed the Vancouver Google Doodle logo since the start of the Winter Olympics 2010. Each day a new one comes up on the screen. I am a big fan. I have already done a post sometime back about the fabulous logo's. When I saw today's Google Doodle I couldn't resist, had to post this postcard. Enjoy !!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY.............NO ORDINARY TOM

I follow Mr. Tom Peters, One of the leading thinkers of our times on business management practices. Here is what he said about the importance of thoughtfulness. So simple, yet so powerful. Definitely a priceless spark for a Sunday evening postcard.

Ladies n Gentlemen : Tom Peters on Thoughtfulness

"I think it was the recession—the great recession, or whatever you want to call it—that really got me thinking about this. You know, when times are very tough and tough decisions have to be made, as they certainly have to be made, fundamental human decency toward one another is arguably more important than at any other time.

And somehow or another, the word thoughtfulness came into my mind. And I like the word thoughtfulness. And then the next step in this process—and I’d ask you to think about this—many of you, most of you, probably have some kind of value statement. Put the employee first, put the customer first, put the shareholder first, whatever it is. And so, I am really literally asking you—it’s probably only got, like, five lines, right?—I want one of those five lines, or six lines, to say—precise language, please—“We are thoughtful in all we do.”

Now, one of the benefits of that is it makes you a better human being probably. But then I got thinking about it, and here’s what I wrote down when I put together a slide on the topic. I said, “Thoughtfulness is the key to customer retention.” It is, don’t you think? Think about it. Thoughtfulness is the key to customer retention. Thoughtfulness is the key to employee recruitment and satisfaction. Thoughtfulness is the key to brand perception. Thoughtfulness is key to your ability to look in the mirror and tell your kids about your job. Thoughtfulness is free. Thoughtfulness is key to speeding things up. It reduces friction. Thoughtfulness is key to transparency and even cost containment. It abets rather than stifles truth telling.

So maybe you’ll get enamored with this word, too. I like the word thoughtful. I particularly like the word thoughtful in tough times. But then, as I thought more and more about it, I also think thoughtful is probably the key to profitability through employees who are satisfied or even happy and customers who are satisfied and even happy.

So if you do have a value statement, just write in, “Thoughtfulness in all we do,” and take a look at it for a while and if it works for you, keep it. I suggest you keep it ".

Catch the guru on the following link :

http://www.tompeters.com/

PICK ONE...........COMMOTION OR QUIETUDE

Which one do you prefer? The great hustle bustle can be quite suffocating at times. Isn't it ? Wish we could have both.

BOOKS, STARS AND THE BEAUTIFUL CHASE !!........PICTURE OF THE DAY

You said not to follow, and I said alright

tried hard, not to think, to change my mind.

Did everything I could, to stay away,

and not to follow you inside.

My feelings, I tried so hard

not to show, but I just couldn't hide

I just couldn't hide.............................

FROM THE BATTLEFIELD............JUST IN

Here he comes,
battered and bruised, with a wounded soul
here he comes,
that's him, soldier of love
here he comes.


Fought valiantly for the cause,
he gave it all, without a pause
Lost everything he had,
his sanity, his peace
hoping some day
this bloody war would cease

Soldier of love tried it all,
in vain he searched
day after day, every single day
from dawn till the night fall
he tried it all, he gave it all


Here he comes,

battered and bruised, with a wounded soul

here he comes,

that's him, soldier of love

here he comes.

IT'S NOW OR NEVER...........

Nothing seems right, everything's gone haywire
Dangling upside down, staring down a gorge
with my feet caught up in a thin wire.

Where has it gone, where have I lost my desire
to conquer , never to submit
burning deep inside, all that fire.

Something's gotta give, if I don't fire
This is my time, my only chance
to turn things around, to reignite this dying fire .

Nothing seems right, everything's gone haywire
dangling upside down, staring down a gorge
with my feet caught up in a thin wire.

CALL ME RAM LAL.......... The famous canine friend

As promised, here's another postcard from the pink city. This one is about this popular four legged canine called Ram Lal in Kasturba Nagar, where my brother stays. A very docile black street dog, who is very popular with the kids and grown ups alike. Oh! I forgot to mention, don't get mislead by the name, it's a she. That's right a she with a he name :-). There is a little story about the coining of this name. I am told when Ram Lal was a little pup, a bunch of kids decided to name her one day. Since they couldn't figure out the sex:-) of our little friend, they started referring her as Ram Lal. Interesting, isn't it ?

With the break of dawn, Ram Lal starts prancing the street of Kasturba Nagar, visiting every house, exchanging innocent glance with all the early birds in the neighbourhood. Everybody considers Ram Lal as a family pet, in fact some as an important member. Food has never been a problem for her. Dinner is always served at my brothers house.

She's one hell of a popular dog I must say :-)

HULLABALOO, CHOKI DHANI AND THE GREAT LET DOWN !

"Going to pink city and not visiting the village resort of Choki Dhani......you must be joking" - A common reaction of frequent travellers about this little hub of Rajasthani food and culture. Despite being mocked, I never payed any heed to my respected friends until yesterday evening, when at last ,I decided to visit Choki Dhani. By the evening the excitement had reached a feverish pitch. Even the light lunch in the afternoon, was a delibrate ploy to accomodate every single Rajasthani food item on the dinner menu at CD:-)

Alas! Luck had some other plans, and our euphoria was short lived. At the pearly gates of Choki Dhani we were greeted by sea of people and a waiting line which was resembling more like a monster serpent. A dejected couple told us that there's a mayhem inside and we might have to wait for hours to whet our appetite.

With our great hope gone, we had very little choice but to drag ourselves to the car and move to a less glitzy spot.

Sorry my friends, I really tried hard this time.............wish me luck for the future :-)

HOPING TO LEAPFROG?..............TODAY IS THE DAY

Say it with flowers, say it with a quick message, .......and if there are any real romantic frogs still left out there , say it the old fashioned way..... Pick up that pen, write a beautiful letter, maybe a lovely song.... sing it to her, dance with her, cry with her..... COZ' TODAY IS THE DAY, COZ TODAY IS VALENTINE'S DAY:-)

GO CRAZY ! And please remember to keep that flame burning, not just today, tomorrow, the day after, but right thru' the year.And one more thing, if you've found your princess my dear Mr. Frog, take my advice,hold on to her till the very end..........till the end of time.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO ALL OF YOU !

OPERATION DESERT STORM 2010....THE SAND, PINK CITY AND THE PUNDIT

Long weekend and here I am right in the middle of this beautiful oasis called Jaipur. It doesn't happen very often that you'll find the Pundit leaving the confines of the sacred observatory.............so definitely this splash n dash is worth a postcard.

I hope to find lot of Sparks here and who knows few might translate into lovely postcards. Keep watching this space:-)

SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE EARTH N THE SKY......

Something about the sky tonight

just ain't right, lookin up I wonder why

tryin' so hard to understand

still I fail to realize, looking up I wonder why

FROM MOUNT KAILASH........PICTURE OF THE DAY !!

Today is Maha Shivaratri..............Praise the Lord

WAR OF THE WORLDS.............RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

MY SPARK FOR THE EVENING POST...TWO CONTRASTING POSTCARDS FROM THE FARTHEST CORNERS OF THE SEAMLESS CYBERSPACE.

THEY SAY MONEY CAN BUY YOU EVERYTHING. IT CAN MAKE YOU HAPPY. I AM SURE THERE ARE MANY OUT THERE WHO WOULD DISAGREE....INCLUDING THOSE WHO DESPITE OF ALL THE RICHES ARE STILL TRYING IN VAIN TO FIND THEIR OASIS.

MONEY CAN'T BUY ETERNAL LOVE, IT CAN'T ENRICH OUR LIVES WITH LASTING VALUES, IT CAN'T HELP US FIND REAL FRIENDS.....FRIENDS FOR LIFE.

THINK ABOUT IT !

EARTH MEETS THE SKY.......A BRAND NEW DAY ARRIVES

Wish I could open my eyes to this magnificent view every morning.............TAKES MY BREATH AWAY !

IT'S BEEN TOUGH, IT'S BEEN HARD............STILL HAVEN'T FOUND WHAT I AM LOOKING FOR

AS THE SUN GOES DOWN, AS ANOTHER DAY GOES BY
STANDING HERE ALL ALONE,
HERE I AM..... HERE I AM

NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE, NOTHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO
WAITING FOR THE CALL OF DESTINY
HERE I AM...HERE I AM

LOOKING IN THE DISTANCE FOR ONE LAST TIME
PLAYING THIS WAITING GAME ONE MORE TIME
HERE I AM.......HERE I AM

PANDA-MOUNT PICTURES PRESENTS - SWEET SIXTEEN

I simply loved this, definitely worth a postcard.Not one, not two..... but sixteen panda cubs pose for a class shot on their first day at nursery in Wolong National Nature Reserve, in Sichuan Province, South West China ..............VERY CUTE I MUST SAY !!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1248678/Panda-monium-Sixteen-panda-cubs-pose-class-shot-day-nursery.html

WISH I COULD FLY.....................AGAIN

I've just come back after paying a quick visit to the Zoo. Lot of excitement for the kids, but for yours truly it was something else. The appalling living conditions of the inmates, our friends from the wild, made me sick. Especially the beautiful birds inside the cage made me wonder, how cruel a man can be.

Wish I could help you
wish I could do magic
wish I could fix those wings
wish I could hold you, and take you back,
to the place where you belong
high up in the sky, deep inside the forest
high up on the mountains, right across the mighty sea
Wish I could trade places with you
take away all your miseries and set you free
Wish I could set you free.

GREAT WHITE MARCH !!................PICTURE OF THE DAY

Now that's what I call a picture perfect................AWESOME TWOSOME !